Martin Short to headline Leaders in Innovation Dinner

Martin Short, celebrated Canadian actor and comedy legend, has been named keynote speaker for the 2015 Leaders in Innovation Dinner, hosted by Western’s Robarts Research Institute on Nov. 18, at the Best Western Plus Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre in London. This year’s dinner spotlights research excellence in the field of cellular and molecular imaging in cancer.

Best known for his 40-year career in television and movies, Short has a personal connection to cancer. At 17, he lost his mother, Olive, to breast cancer. In 2010, his wife of 30 years, Nancy, passed away after a battle with ovarian cancer.

Short will provide an exclusive look into his Hollywood and stage careers and speak about how the tragedy of losing family members has empowered him to become a fearless comedian during the keynote speech and armchair discussion with emcee Liza Fromer, co-host of The Morning Show on the Global Television Network.

The Leaders in Innovation Dinner also includes the presentation of the 2015 J. Allyn Taylor International Prize to internationally renowned Dr. Sanjiv S. Ghambir, a Stanford Medicine cancer imaging researcher.

“Leaders in Innovation brings the best to London,” said Dr. Michael J. Strong, Dean of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and interim Scientific Director at Robarts. “In one evening, attendees will learn more about the life-changing cancer research happening here at Robarts and take part in an intimate conversation with a remarkable Canadian entertainer who has lived through the devastating consequences of cancer.”